The Castle of the Counts of Modica in Alcamo

The Counts of Modica and the Castle of Alcamo

Every year Alcamo attracts a large number of tourists, whose main destination is the beaches of the Sicilian coast, with crystal clear sea and a truly inimitable landscape. Those who come to visit Alcamo, however, cannot miss the important cultural testimonies, with monuments that belong to different ages and which contain a unrivaled architectural heritage.

Alcamo Castle is undoubtedly a point of interest that deserves the attention of history buffs but also of the curious who want to discover the island's treasures, retracing the stages of a glorious tradition. The peculiarity of the area has made it important as a commercial hub disputed since ancient times, due to the mix of traditions that has helped to create an incredible blend of artistic testimonies, direct or indirect expression of the influence of the various dominations that have followed over the centuries .

Alcamo and its castle, from the past to the present day

The Municipality of Alcamo today has over 40 inhabitants and is located near the Mount Bonifato in the province of Trapani at 829 meters above sea level, near the beautiful gulf of Castellammare. The origins of the name are uncertain but there are even those who connect the word to the Arab definition of fertile land, demonstrating the fact that, in any case, cultures have always mixed in this area.

Other scholars, however, report the similarity etymological with caccamu, which in dialect indicates a plant species present in the area. The first testimonies tell of a predominantly Muslim country, with the inhabitants who largely professed this religion and found themselves in the markets or in the mosques. The town has been the subject of various dominations, among which we can mention Ostrogoths, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Swabians.

The inhabited center was divided into feudal villages and subsequently there were significant revolts that took place around the mid-1200s, which resulted in the deportation of the Saracens to direction of Foggia. The feudal lords took over and the castle of the Ventimiglias on the summit of Mount Bonifato, the remains of which are still visible.

The Castle of Alcamo was also built, which today is in excellent condition, with a conservation work that also led to a complete renovation. The structure has now become a popular stop for a large number of tourists who arrive on the island every year.

Alcamo Castle: the defensive function

Placing the construction of the castle historically with accuracy is not easy since Peter II granted the land of Alcamo with a document of 1340, which however does not contain any indication of the structure and it is difficult to think that it is a simple oversight.

The first official testimony therefore dates back to the year 1391, when King Martin I wrote to Enrico Ventimiglia who played the role of Count of Alcamo, confirming the transfer of the land and the castle, thus signaling unequivocally the existence of the building. Indicatively, the construction of the castle can be dated between 1340 and 1350 by the Peralta family, with the completion of the work entrusted to Chiaramonte feudal lords.

The castle had a purely defensive purpose until 1500, with adequate space to accommodate many companies of soldiers as well as their respective supplies of ammunition and food. At the end of 1300 King Martino was hosted with his bride in the building following the capitulation of the Chiaramontes. In the XNUMXth century Charles V was also welcomed there with his entire court.

Between the early 1400s and 1800s the owners it was the Cabreras, which were i Counts of Modicawhich gave it its current name. The history of the structure is also linked to the attack suffered by Barbarossa, a well-known Islamic pirate. The fourteenth century was characterized by at least 3 restorations, aimed at restoring the original appearance and ensuring its stability. In 1800 it was then acquired by the Stuart family.

Soon the Court of Trapani sanctioned the passage to the Municipality of Alcamo, which in 1870 undertook a further restructuring operation, also making it the seat of the offices of the institution, a prison and even a stable.

The castle nowadays

Today the Castle of Alcamo is a place appreciated by many tourists. The most recent restoration operations date back to the period from 2000 to 2010, using the structure also for setting up the historic Sicilian wine shop, the ethnographic museum, the wine museum.

Are present the exhibition of Sicilian puppets and that of the sculptures of the author Nicola Rubino. Going up to the first floor of the castle, you can access the large room where civil wedding ceremonies are celebrated, in a truly unique and elegant location.

The plan of the building is rhombus-shaped and a rectangular courtyard can be admired in the centre. The towers were originally used for prisoners, sentinels and guests: the double and triple lancet windows on the sides are in the Catalan Gothic style.

How to reach the castle

The castle is located in Piazza della Repubblica and getting there is very simple because it is connected to the main road arteries of the island.
The reference exit is Alcamo Est but the town is also served by public transport such as buses or taxis.

© Daniele Pugliesi (WMIT), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Clemensfranz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Aesculapius, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Ludvig14, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons